Israel Minister Plans Reorganization of Religious Councils

Rabbi Yaacov Toledano, Minister for Religions, today announced he would soon propose regulations for new religious councils. These are local units made up of appointees of synagogues, municipalities and the rabbinate. The councils, he said, need broadening because they are no longer representative.

The budget of Rabbi Toledano’s Ministry drew a sharp denunciation from a National Religious party deputy in the Knesset, when it was introduced last week. Itzhak Rafael, emphasizing he was not criticizing Rabbi Toledano, said no Orthodox Jew could defend the budget. Asserting that he assumed that Rabbi Toledano was acting in good faith, Mr. Rafael declared that the only reduction in the national budget for 1959-1960 were for the Chief Rabbinate and the Kashruth supervision department.